48 THE HORSE 



latter bears as a predisposing factor in the production of 

 disease. 



The heavy draught horse will always be required for 

 use in commercial hfe, but particularly so in the army and 

 in agricultural husbandry. 



Motor traction has supplanted, in a great measure, 

 horse traction, but it can never, either efficiently or 

 economically, entirely supplant the latter. 



The value of the heavy draught horse in warfare, as 

 proved in the Allies war with Germany, has been amply 

 demonstrated. The heavy draught horses comprise the 

 Clydesdale, the Shire, the Suffolk, and the two continental 

 breeds, viz. the Percheron and the Boulonnaise, the 

 larger breed of the latter being the chief draught horse 

 employed about Boulogne, Calais, St. Omer, etc. The 

 short, powerful neck and the large head are ver}^ character- 

 istic of the breed last named. 



In the selection of a horse for the heaviest class of 

 haulage two breeds stand pre-eminent, viz. the Shire and 

 the Clydesdale. It matters very httle which is selected, 

 provided that a good class of animal is chosen, concern- 

 ing which there need be no difficulty, if the instructions 

 laid down in this chapter, are dihgently read and digested: 

 The majority of the devotees of the Scottish horse wiU 

 naturally prefer to select a horse of this breed, neverthe- 

 less when the heaviest class of work has been done, the 

 author thinks that the Shire takes precedence. All 

 things considered, the Shire is more massive in general 

 build, but not quite so agile as the Clydesdale. This is 

 due, in a great measure, to the middle piece or body of 

 the former being more cumbersome. In other words, 

 the Scottish horse has a more economical distribution of 

 material, in relation to working capacity, and con- 

 sequently is able to employ this to greater advantage. 



Doubtless good horses can be produced by mating the 

 Shire and Clydesdale, and there is evidence that in 

 future this cross will be vigorously pursued by breeders. 



